Canadian Drivers License (Ontario) - Getting US DL

[zabbir]

Hello,

I am a Canadian on a TN Visa. I am currently in Missouri, and I have checked that the only way that I can get a Missouri DL is by doing the written and road test. They dont care about my Ontario, Canada DL.

Does anyone know of any state that will give a US DL, by me showing my Ontario DL? Also, I dont want to surrender my Ontario DL, because after 1 or 2 years, I will be moving back to Canada, and I dont want to go through the process of redoing my Canadian DL.

If anyone knows any state that will provide someone with a US DL, and let you still keep your Canadian DL, please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[TheRealCanadian]

I am a Canadian on a TN Visa. I am currently in Missouri, and I have checked that the only way that I can get a Missouri DL is by doing the written and road test. They dont care about my Ontario, Canada DL.

That's pretty much par for the course.

Does anyone know of any state that will give a US DL, by me showing my Ontario DL?

Will you still be living in MO?

If anyone knows any state that will provide someone with a US DL, and let you still keep your Canadian DL, please let me know.

I can't think of any state that will do that. I'm pretty certain that federal law requires the states to confiscate any other licenses when they issue one.

 

[Klepper]

I got my DL in Connecticut using my Ontario DL. They considered it the same as "out of state license". My wife did so also at a different time, so I don't think it was a fluke. They did not take my Ontario DL. Interestingly, they did not transfer my motorcycle license from Ontario though.

I then moved to Texas, and used my Connecticut DL to obtain my Texas DL. Texas did take my Connecticut DL. I therefore still have my Ontario DL.

 

[nelsona]

Hello,

I am a Canadian on a TN Visa. I am currently in Missouri, and I have checked that the only way that I can get a Missouri DL is by doing the written and road test. They dont care about my Ontario, Canada DL.

Does anyone know of any state that will give a US DL, by me showing my Ontario DL? Also, I dont want to surrender my Ontario DL, because after 1 or 2 years, I will be moving back to Canada, and I dont want to go through the process of redoing my Canadian DL.

If anyone knows any state that will provide someone with a US DL, and let you still keep your Canadian DL, please let me know.

Thanks.

As a missouri resident, I can assure you that the DMV will not take your Cdn license from you. As you said they don't care about your Cdn license, and thus they don't take it from you either.

As to whether your ONtario DL will remain valid, that is doubtful. Once you leave most provinces, DLs expire. So preciously holding onto your Ontario DL may be fruitless.

And to clarify the rules regarding state DL, by US fed law you cannot hold DLs from 2 states simultaneously, and each state demands that you surrender DLs from another state, as a condition of obtaining a new one. This does NOT encompass Provinces however. Some states, therefore, do confiscate, and some don't, based on arrangements they have made with the Provinces.

Missouri will *sometimes* let you get DL by simple written test (I did) but usually require road test (wife did). But in no case will they take your Cdn Prov DL.

 

[Canadian John]

Hey

I'm a resident in Pennsylvania. When I went to get my PA drivers license I had to just do a quick vision test, show PennDOT my Passport w/ TN stamp, my I-94, a brief letter from my employer indicating that I am employed with them and some form of proof of residence in Pennsylvania such as a utility bill. They issued me a Pennsylvania drivers license (with an expiry date matching the expiry date on my TN I-94) and let me keep my Ontario DL although they hole punched the expiry date on my Ontario DL basically rendering it unusable.

Hope that helps.